Automatic carriage controlled line space setting device for typewriters



y 7, 1965 H. L. LAMBERT 3,197,012

7 AUTOMATIC CARRIAGE CONTROLLED LINE SPACE SETTING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed June 28, 1963 e 0 aa 0210' INVENTOR HARRY L. LAMBERT gwf fij wm ATTORNEYS United. States Patent 3,197,012 AUTGMATKC CARRIAGE CONTROLLED LINE SPACE SETTING DEVHCE FOR TYPEWRITERS Harry L. Lambert, Hendersonville, N.C., assignor to Royal McBee (Zorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 28, 1963, Ser. No. 291,463 3 Claims. (Cl. 17114) This invention relates to an automatic carriage controlled line space setting device for typewriters or like machines; more particularly it relates to a line space control which is conditionable upon return of and by the carriage to the beginning of a line to effect multiple spacing upon subsequent carriage return actuation thereby topermit rapid interform spacing.

- The automatic operation of typewriters to reproduce form letters under control of records has been in extensive use for many years. Speed of reproduction of these form letters. is appreciably slowed due to the necessity for the form Writing typewriter to accomplish a great number of successive single line space operations between forms before the typing of the next form letter may begin. The loss of time is also experienced during production of the record which controls the form writing typewriter in that an operator must record codes in the record to effect a requisite number of single line space operations of the form writing typewriter to accomplish inter form spacing.

Line spacing is effected in the record producing and form writing machines in response to a carriage return action and occurs prior to movement of the carriage to the beginning of a new line; the number of line spaces effected being determined by the line space setting which may be set to 1, 2 or 3 spaces. The line space setting is normally set to eflfect single line spacing. At the end of a form letter produced simultaneously with a record in a code producing typewriter, the operator must depress the carriage return key a successive number of times equivalent to the number of line spaces required between forms and thereby perforate or record in a record a series of carriage return codes which are operative to initiate a series of single line spacing operations in the form writing machine.

In accordance with the invention there is provided on the record producing and form writing machines, means operative upon return of the carriage to a new line to move the line space setting to three thereby to effect three units of spacing in response .to subsequently initiated carriage returns. If typing is resumed on the new line presented after the initial carriage return, the line space setting mechanism is automatically returned to a setting of one after a predetermined number of typing strokes, or is automatically returned to a setting of one in response to tabulating movement. If double spacing after a line of type is required an operator may initiate carriage return at the end of a line 'of type to return the carriage and effect a single line space, and initiate a tabulating movement to return the line space setting to one so that a carriage return initiated immediately thereafter will effect another single line space rather than three. In View of the above and as will be more specifically explained below,

the invention reduces the number of times a typewriter, record producing or form writing, must be actuated to effect line spacing between forms.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a time saving attachment for typewriters to expedite line spacing between typewritten forms.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus operative in response to the movement of a typewriter carriage to a new line to automatically change the line mounting holes 28 are provided on the rear face of the ice and resettable to a single line space position in response to succeeding letter space-tabulating movements.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of camming means secured to a typewriter frame and operable to engage and drive a cam follower associated.

with the line space setting mechanism on the carriage to effect a multiple line space setting upon movement of the carriage to a new printing line and to effect a single line space setting in response to predetermined letter space tabulating movements from the left hand margin set point.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the samebecomes better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is'an elevational view showing the carriage return operated line space mechanism of a typewriter and elements embodying applicants invention associated therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a partial elevational view of the top cover of the typewriter taken along lines.2- 2 of FIGURE 1 showing a camming element mounted thereon which is operable on a follower associated with the line space mechanism; and

FIGURE 3 is a partial elevational view showingthe action of the cam on the follower stud in response to carriage movement. i I

Referring now to the drawings wherein. like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views thereofthere is shown in FIGURE 1 well known elements of the Royal Electric Office Typewriter carriage construction which include a carriage return drawband 10 connected at one end to a lever 12 pivoted on the axis 14 of the platen at the left end of the carriage which is adapted to oscillate a pawl 16 pivotally mounted thereon. The pawl 16 is operable to engage the line space ratchet 18 on the platen so as to automatically effect, prior to carriage return movement, single, double or triple line spacing, each time a carriage return function is initiated, depending on the set position of a shield 20 pivotally mounted on the axis of the platen which determines'the time of engagement of the pawl 16 during its operative stroke with the ratchet 20. The other end of the drawband 10 is secured to a drawband drum (not shown) which is operatively coupled to the typewriter motor powered shaft upon initiation of a carriage return operation in a well known manner. The position of the shield illustrated in FIGURE 1 is the single space set position. a

In accordance with the invention the shield 20 is provided with a cam follower stud 22 which extends radially therefrom and toward the front of the machine when the shield is positioned to effect single line spacing.

Also in accordance with the invention, the frame mounted top cover 24 of the machine is adapted to adjustably mount a camming element, generally designated by reference numeral 26, at laterally spaced positions corresponding to selected left hand margin settings. To this end top cover as viewed in FIGURE 2. The camming element 26 is V-shaped as viewed endwise in FIGURE 1 with one side 30 of the V secured to selected mounting holes 28 as by screws 32. The other side as viewed from the front of the machine in FIGURE 3 is formed with an Open slot 34 extending leftwardly and then upwardly and to the left at a predetermined angle to the horizontal. The camming slot 34 is positioned in the path of the follower stud 22 on theline space shield whereby upon return movement 'of the carriage the follower stud will be cammed downwardly by the upper edge of the slot and the shield will rotate counterclockwise asviewed in FIGURE 1 to the three space position which permits the pawl to en-i gage theratchet earlier in its stroke. a

The position A of the follower stud in FIGURE 3, i.e. with the follower stud 22 all the way in the slot depicts thecarriage at the left hand margin .set' position hereinafter referred to as'the-left limit of carriage movement. If a carriage return operation is initiated at this position of the carriage the platen will rotate. 3 line space incremenfs. Hence the return of thecarriage to a new line automatically conditions themachine to effect 3 line'space increments in response to carriage return actions initiated at'thebeginning of a new line. a

'Where the new line and lines subsequent thereto are to receive typing it is necessary toetfect a single line spacing between typed lines. Hence if .typingis to resume, the setting must be returned to a single line space setting. With reference to FIGURE .3 it is apparent that if the carriage moves in letter space (escapement) or tab direction,

the stud 22 in moving out of the slot 34 will be carnrncd upwardly by the lower edge of the slot during movement of the carriage through three letter spaces. Hence after diately after a carriage return and then initiate another:

carriage return. I V

As is evident the .camrning plate may be positioned in an inoperative position beyond'the left marginset position or removed wherever operation as above describedis not desired.

It should be understood that the'foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modificae tions of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit-and scope of theinvention.

The invention claimed is: 1. Typewriter apparatus having a frame,

a carriage mounted for movement relative to said frame between left and right limits,

a platen rotatably mounted on said carriage,

a ratchet secured to said platen,

pawl means operable through a predetermined-stroke upon initiation of a carriage return movement adapted to engage and rotate said ratchet,

adjustable. means normally enabling engagement of said pawl means with said ratchet over a portion only of its operative stroke whereby a single incremental movement is elfected,

and frame mounted means positioned in the path of;

4 said carriage operative on said adjustable means upon movement of the carriage to its left limit whereby said pawl means is enabled to engage said ratchet over a greater portion of its operative stroke whereby multiple incremental movement is effected in response to carriage return operations initiated while said carriage is at its left limit position.

2. Typewriter apparatus having a frame,

a carriage mounted for movement relative to said frame between right and left limits,

a platen rotatably mounted on said carriage,

a ratchet secured to said platen,

pawl means operable through a predetermined stroke 'uponim'n'ation'of carriage return movement adapted to engage and rotate said ratchet,

. settable means 'for normally inhibiting engagement of said pawl over a major portion of its operative stroke thereby to permit a single incremental movement of said ratchet by said pawl,

a cam follower and camming means mounted on said settablemeans and said frame respectively, saidcamming means being positioned to operate said follower upon'movement of said carriage to said left limit and upon movement'of said carriage from said left limit,

' whereby said settable means is conditioned to permit engagement of said pawl with said ratchet over the major portion 'of its stroke thereby to effect multiple lincrementali movement of said ratchet upon subsequentcarriage return actuation while said carriage is at its left'limit and whereby said settable means is reset to its normal position upon s'ubsequent'moveand camming means supported by said frame and positioned to engage said cam follower stud during the terminal portion of carriage return movement where- "R'eferences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,718,955 9/55 Elliot 197-435 FOREIGN PATENTS 755,999 8/56 Great Britain.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. TYPEWRITER APPARATUS HAVING A FRAME, A CARRIAGE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT LIMITS, A PLATEN ROTATBLY MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE, A RATCHET SECURED TO SAID PLATEN, PAWL MEANS OPERABLE THROUGH A PREDETERMINED STROKE UPON INITAIATION OF A CARRIAGE RETURN MOVEMENT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND ROTATE SAID RATCHET, ADJUSTABLE MEANS NORMALLY ENABLING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID PAWL MEANS WITH SAID RATCHET OVER A PORTION ONLY OF ITS OPERATIVE STROKE WHEREBY A SINGLE INCREMENTAL MOVEMENT IS EFFECTED, AND FRAME MOUNTED MEANS POSITIONED IN THE PATH SAID CARRIAGE OPERATIVE ON SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS UPON MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE TO ITS LEFT LIMIT WHEREBY SAID PAWL MEANS IS ENABLING TO ENGAGE SAID RATCHET OVER A GREATER PORTION OF ITS OPERATIVE STROKE WHEREBY MULTIPLE INCREMENTAL MOVEMENTS IS EFFECTED IN RESPONSE TO CARRIAGE RETURN OPERATIONS INITIATED WHILE SAID CARRIAGE IS AT ITS LEFT LIMIT POSITION. 